Dr Lynne Russell discusses suicide prevention for Māori in the third of three online seminars. The video recording of this seminar is at: http://www.spinz.org.nz/resourcefinder/listings/resource/596/preventing-maori-suicide%3A-improving-care-and-intervention/

1. Preventing Māori Suicide:
Improving care and intervention
Dr. Lynne Russell
Kāi Tahu, Ngāti Kahungunu,
Kāti Māmoe, Rangitāne, Ngāti Porou

4.  “The greatest
resource is
whanau…” (Dame
Iritana
Tawhiwhirangi)
 “Whanau offer the
most untapped
potential for Maori
suicide prevention.”
(Hon Tariana Turia)

5.  Suicide can only occur when a suicidal person is
alone.
 When someone makes the decision to end their
life they believe it is the right thing to do – the
best thing to do – at that moment in time.
 Suicide is not the decision made by
a well mind or intact wairua.
 Suicide rarely, if ever, occurs
‘out of the blue’.

6.  “I think if people could see how utterly bereft
and devastated suicide leaves those most
important to them and how people damage
themselves because of the loss that a beloved
one’s suicide does to them –
would it make a difference?
Most often I see the silent
ongoing pain that with the
passing of time tends to mask,
but it is always ever present.”
(Indigenous woman)

7.  “I continue to believe we need to gently bring the
issue of suicide from out of the shadows.” (Chief
Coroner, Judge Neil MacLean, 3 Sept 2012)
 “It needs to be discussed out in the open. For too
long we have carried shame for having feelings of
suicide or knowledge that someone we love has
taken their lives. We are bereft with confusion,
guilt and anger.” (Wahine Māori, 18 March 2013)
 “It is the kind of pain that is difficult to voice
because it is so complex. But we must speak to it
out loud without shame if we are ever going to
heal from it.” (First Nations sister, 18 March 2013)

8.  Whānau must be facilitated
to tell their own stories… to
exercise rangatiratanga
over their lives

10.  “It was definitely
KŌRERO!!! obvious that I was
unwell, even work
WHAKARONGO!!! colleagues could see
it...but no one made
enquiry, or pushed
me further or sat
with me long enough
for me to trust that I
could share this with
them and that they
would help me get
help.”

13. Unuhia i te rito o te harakeke
Kei whea te kōmako, e kō?
Whakatairangitia
Rere ki uta, rere ki tai
Kī mai ki ahau
He aha te mea nui o te ao?
Māku e kī atu
He tangata, he tangata, ā, he tangata!
Draw out the heart of the flax
Where is the bellbird that calls?
Move this way and that
Fly towards land, fly towards the
sea
Ask me
What is the most important thing
in the world?
I will say
People, people, people!